At the end of May, the team of REALIS Charity Foundation conducted the first session of the “DACHA” (Helping Adaptation through Compassion and Art) Recreational and Psychosocial Rehabilitation Camps for Children and Adults for families from one of the communities in the Chernihiv region.
Over the course of two weeks, participants had the opportunity to relax in nature, restore their emotional well-being, meet with psychologists, and spend quality time with their families away from the constant anxiety and stress caused by the war.
An important part of the program was the work of psychologists with both children and adults. During group sessions and workshops, participants discussed emotions, stress, inner resources, and ways to support themselves and their loved ones. Art therapy activities also played a special role, helping participants safely express their feelings through creativity, reduce stress levels, and discover new resources for recovery.
Life at the camp was active and engaging: children made new friends, spent plenty of time outdoors, and took part in creative activities, while adults had the opportunity to focus on their emotional well-being and take a break from daily challenges.
The significance of such an experience is best illustrated by one participant’s story. Khrystyna (name changed for security reasons) attended the camp with her 13-year-old daughter Orysia from one of the border villages of the Chernihiv region. War has long become part of their everyday reality: drones fly over the village almost daily, explosions can be heard regularly, and air raid alerts rarely stop.
According to Khrystyna, the constant danger has had a particularly strong impact on her daughter, who was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. The invitation to the camp therefore became an opportunity for the family to escape the atmosphere of constant stress and tension for the first time in a long while.
“You wake up in the morning, open the balcony door, and hear birds singing instead of the buzz of drones and the sound of interceptors,” Khrystyna shares.
The sessions with psychologists proved especially valuable for her. Participants learned to better understand their emotions, cope with anxiety, and use practical self-help techniques. Khrystyna says that she began using breathing exercises during the camp itself, while communication skills based on “I-messages” have already had a positive impact on her relationship with her daughter.
Noticeable changes also occurred in Orysia. At home, she was often withdrawn and cautious, but at the camp she gradually opened up, made new friends, and became much more confident.
Participants also highlighted the warm atmosphere, the care shown by the camp team, the beautiful natural surroundings, and the opportunity to spend meaningful time with their families away from everyday worries. For many families, the sense of safety, peace, and support was especially valuable—something that is often lacking for people living near the border.
“I want to take at least a little of this silence home with me. I dream that our beautiful Chernihiv region will survive and that people will once again come to our area to relax and enjoy its natural beauty,” says Khrystyna.
Sometimes recovery begins with simple things—the ability to sleep peacefully, hear birds singing in the morning, and stop waiting for the next air raid alert, even if only for a little while.
The camp is being held within the framework of the project “Comprehensive Support for Children, Families, and Communities Affected by War,” funded by the European Union and implemented by the Solidarity Fund PL Representative Office in Ukraine as part of the PRO_MentalHealth Psychosocial Program.